Feed-water regulator



(No Model.)

R. WILLETTS.

FEED WATER REGULATOR. No. 416,978. Patented Dec. 10, 1889.

,2 1 1 507 J I Y WITNESSES. iNVENTOR N. PETERS. Phalo-Lilhngnplwn Washmglon, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBEN \VILLETTS, OF BEAVER FALLS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J OSEPII S. SHANEMAN, OF NE\V BRIGHTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

FEED-WATER REGULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,978, dated December 10, 1889.

Application filed April 29, 1889, Serial No. 308,975. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN WILLnrTs, of Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Feed-Water Regulators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a boiler provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section on the line H II of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each.

In the drawings, 2 represents a steamboiler. 3 represents a pipe or tube projecting from the interior to the exterior thereof through a nipple or socket 4, within which it is journaled, and having on the inner end a flanged head or collar 5, which bears against the end of the nipple and acts as a seal to render steam-tight the joint. At the end of the tube 3 is a hollow T-connection 6, from 2 5 which projects a pipe 7, at the end of which is a hollow ball 8. The pipe 7 constitutes a lever, which is rotary on the axis of the tube 3, and is provided with a weighted arm 9 and link 10, by which it is connected with the 0 valve 11, controlling the feed-water supply of the boiler. The dotted lines in Fig. 1 show the limits of radial motion of the lever. Then the ball 8 is empty, the gravity of the Weighted arm 9 is sufficient to hold the ball 3 5 in an elevated position and to move the stem of the injector-valve, so as to hold the latter open and in position. to cause the feeding of water to the boiler.

The line (1 cl represents the low-water level of the boiler, and 6 represent the highwater level. i

lVhen the ball 8 is in the elevated position, (shown in Fig.1 by dotted lines,) the in jectorvalve is open and water is fed to the boiler, and as the water-level therein rises above the tube 3 it flows therein and within. the upwardly-inclined pipe 7 into the ball.

For the purpose of providing for the escape of air from the ball to permit free entrance of the water at the initial filling of the boiler, the ball is provided with a small air-cock 1. This need only be used at the first filling of the boiler, since afterward the ball, when free of water, is filled only with steam, which 011 the rise of the water will condense to permit free entrance of the latter. The accumulation of water in the ball of course increases its gravity sufficiently to cause it to drop, thereby turning the lever 7 radially on its axis into the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1., raising the arm 9, closing the injectorvalve and cutting 01f the water-supply. As the water in the boiler descends, from evaporation or other cause, it will remain in the ball until the water-level falls below the mouth 6 5 of the pipe 3; but as soon as this occurs it will flow out entirely from the ball into the boiler through the pipe 7. This relief of the weight of the water from the ball makes it lighter than the weighted arm 9, causes the latter to drop, thereby raising the pipe 7 and its ball, and again opening the valve to cause an additional feeding of water. The Operation of the apparatus is thus entirely automatic, and as there is no practical difficulty in preventing excessive friction between the tube 3 and the nipple 4 the device is very reliable and not apt to get out of order.

Instead of operating an injector or feedpump valve by motion of the ball, such mo tion may be employed to effect other purposes, such as the sounding of an alarm-sig nal by the closing of an electric circuit or otherwise. 1 illustrate such construction in the drawings, in which 1212 represent the conductors of an electrical signal-circuit, 13 is the alarm-signal or bell included therein, and 14.- 14 are the circuit-closers, forming the terminals of the circuit, which are operated by the rise of the ball.

I claim 1. The combination, with the boiler, of the exterior hollow ball or vessel, a weighted hollow lever extending therefrom, and a rotary connection between the hollow lever and the boiler, said rotary connection forming the sole communicating passage from the boiler In testimony whereof I have hereunto set IO to said ball or vessel, substantially as and for my hand this 24th day of April, A. D. 1889. the purposes described.

2. The combination, with the boiler, of the REUB 1N VILLETTS. exterior hollow ball or vessel, a weighted 1101- 7 low lever extending therefrom, a T-connec- \Vitnesses: tion 6, fitted to the hollow lever, and abranch W. B. CORWIN, 3 projecting therefrom into the boiler, sub- THOMAS XV. BAKEWELL.

stantially as and for the purposes described. 

